THE FOUR OCEAN GIANTS VISITING THE SUNSHINE COAST THIS WINTER

This winter, the Sunshine Coast is anticipating the arrival of record numbers of whales into its waters. Between May and November, more than 20,000 Humpback Whales are expected to pass our shores, looking to make Queensland’s warm waters their temporary mating and birthing ground.

Whilst the Humpback whales are by far the most frequently sighted species, if you search hard enough, you may just be lucky enough to spot one of these other fascinating beasts!

ORCAS

Orcas prey on humpback whales, and are happy to travel long distances to areas where their prey is most abundant. With the large numbers of humpback whales visiting the Sunshine Coast’s waters, it’s only natural that orcas too would be attracted to the area. So look beyond the humpbacks, and you may spot a pod of orcas lurking nearby!

DWARF MINKE WHALES

Dwarf minke whales migrate along Australia’s East Coast annually, before gathering at Northern Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef for a few months over winter. Smaller than the humpback, they are distinguished by their unique colourings, particularly its white pectoral flippers with black edging.

These whales will be passing through the Sunshine Coast between June and August, so you may get lucky and spot one on your whale watching tour!

SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE

The rarest of the four, the Southern Right Whale is currently considered endangered. However the good news is, their population is on the rise, and so too are sightings! They follow a similar migration pattern of the humpback and dwarf minke, visiting the Sunshine Coast’s warm waters over the winter months for mating and giving birth.

These playful and inquisitive animals have been known to swim right up to boats to check out what’s going on. They also like to put on a show with mum and baby performing acrobatics for amazed whale watchers!

Keep your eyes peeled whilst your out on your whale watching adventure, and you may just be lucky enough to spot all four!

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We are a local family business based in Mooloolaba on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, which delivers outstanding marine and adventure experiences. Our company focus is purely aimed at ensuring the best possible experience is delivered in all aspects to our customers.

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Yesterday with the help of Sunshine Coast Afloat we scattered my grandfather's ashes. The crew were amazing and caring and really helped make our day special. I would highly recommend this service to anyone. Thank you again!

A Google User

07:27 21 May 18

Had a terrific day last Saturday 19 May 2018 on a 7 hour trip out from Caloundra with Captain Toby and his helpers Zoe and Dixon.
Fish a bit light on but the crew were excellent. Will return when fish start biting. Good to have room to move about. Excellent car parking instructions. Best wishes from Ian and Dylan.

A Google User

06:41 13 Aug 18

A very enjoyable whale watching cruise that doesn't take the whole day! The boat was very comfortable and the crew were fabulous. Whale watching is a group activity, so we were all on the lookout to spot whales and make some noise to encourage them to come towards the boat and take a look at us.
We filled our bellies with lunch of sandwiches, savoury and sweet platters.
It's really interesting to go offshore and look back at the Sunshine Coast landmarks from a different perspective. Places like Old Woman Island, Mount Coolum, the Buderim escarpment, Caloundra headland and of course the Glass House Mountains are all features on the horizon. Get out into the shipping channel and it's likely that you'll get to see some impressive cargo ships waiting to enter the Port of Brisbane. I would definitely recommend these short whale watching cruises ex Mooloolaba during the season. Whales are magnificent creatures and it's an honour to share the ocean with them.

A Google User

02:34 28 May 18

The members of the Warner Recreation Fishing Club had a fantastic day on board Crusader 1. Captain and crew were fantastic and the frendliest we have encountered. Great weather and a great days fishing with the Captain able to locate a number of excellent spots.
Looking forward to booking again.

A Google User

01:05 30 Jul 18

The staff were fantastic, they made the trip something to remember. It was a real pleasure to be on the water, I would definitely recommend this charter for everyone.